Equipment: MRI: Track 1 Acquisition of a High-Resolution X-ray Computed Microtomography System with In Situ Capabilities for Multidisciplinary Research and Education

授予格鲁吉亚大学（UGA）获得高分辨率X射线计算机显微断层扫描（微CT）系统与原位能力，将支持研究，培训，教学和推广工作的30多名调查员在UGA，格鲁吉亚技术和埃默里大学在生物科学，物理科学，考古科学，地质和环境科学，工程学科，和相关领域。以三维（3D）和高分辨率表征完整的天然和工程材料内部微观特征的能力将填补区域和国家成像能力的关键空白。这种特定的微型CT系统将是第一个由开放获取设施，格鲁吉亚电子显微镜（GEM）在UGA主办的同类系统。GEM拥有一系列高度互补的最先进的显微镜，促进多学科的使用和跨学科的合作，它将为CT数据分析提供物理和远程访问高计算资源。除了研究应用和学生用户的相关培训，新仪器将支持UGA的学术使命，通过整合x射线微CT在20多个课程和众多的推广工作，目标是在干学生代表性不足。微型CT演示和模块将纳入GEM提供的现有活动，包括图尔斯和研讨会，该仪器将用于获取数据集并生成适合集成到K-12课程计划中的3D打印模型。这款最先进的微型CT系统为3D微观结构分析提供了卓越的功能，包括低至0.5微米的亚微米吸收断层成像，同时提供低至3微米的吸收、相位和散射对比断层成像的三对比度干涉测量，灵敏度低至0.3微米，以及优化的设计，能够在受控的实验环境条件下对样品进行4D成像。这些独特的能力将对研究生产力产生重大影响，直接支持大量和广泛的资金充足的项目，并使新的，高影响力的研究，福尔斯分为三大类：（1）生物、地质、考古和工程样品的3D内部结构的高分辨率成像，用于从发育生物学到功能聚合物的研究应用，（2）将原位实验与延时成像相结合，以可视化基本过程，例如对基础设施弹性，水资源可持续性和植物生产力至关重要的材料变形和流体流动和运输，以及（3）获取数据以开发新一代图像分析算法，表型框架和孔隙尺度数值模型。特别是，利用该仪器进行相衬断层扫描的能力为低密度材料提供了前所未有的基于实验室的微型CT成像，从而推动了软物质和生命科学研究的前沿。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

An award is made to the University of Georgia (UGA) to acquire a high-resolution x-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) system with in situ capabilities that will support the research, training, teaching, and outreach efforts of more than 30 investigators at UGA, Georgia Tech and Emory University in the biological sciences, physical sciences, archaeological sciences, geological and environmental sciences, engineering disciplines, and related fields. The ability to characterize internal microscopic features in intact natural and engineered materials in three dimensions (3D) and at high resolution will fill a critical gap in regional and national imaging capabilities. This specific micro-CT system will be the first of its kind hosted by an open-access facility, Georgia Electron Microscopy (GEM) at UGA. GEM hosts a wide array of highly complementary state-of-the-art microscopes that facilitate multidisciplinary use and interdisciplinary collaboration, and it will provide physical and remote access to high computing resources for CT data analysis. In addition to research applications and the associated training of student users, the new instrument will support UGA's academic mission by integrating x-ray micro-CT in more than 20 course offerings and numerous outreach efforts that target underrepresented students in STEM. Micro-CT demonstrations and modules will be incorporated in the existing activities offered by GEM, including tours and workshops, and the instrument will be used to acquire data sets and generate 3D printed models suitable for integration into K-12 lesson plans. This state-of-the-art micro-CT system provides exceptional capabilities for 3D microstructural analysis that include submicron absorption tomography imaging down to 0.5 microns, tri-contrast interferometry that simultaneously provides absorption, phase, and scattering contrast tomography imaging down to 3 µm, with sensitivity down to 0.3 µm, and an optimized design that enables 4D imaging of samples in controlled experimental environmental conditions. These unique capabilities will make a major impact on research productivity, directly supporting a large number and range of well-funded projects and enabling new, high-impact research that falls into three broad categories: (1) high-resolution imaging of 3D internal structures of biological, geological, archaeological and engineered samples for research applications ranging from developmental biology to functional polymers, (2) combining in situ experiments with time-lapse imaging to visualize fundamental processes, such as material deformation and fluid flow and transport that are essential to infrastructure resilience, sustainability of water resources, and plant productivity, and (3) acquiring data to develop the new generation of image analysis algorithms, phenotyping frameworks and pore-scale numerical models. In particular, the ability to perform phase-contrast tomography with the proposed instrument provides unprecedented lab-based micro-CT imaging of low-density materials, thereby pushing the frontiers of soft matter and life sciences research.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.